Talks continue on CPMC rebuild

Negotiations are ongoing between city officials and Sutter Health over a $2 billion project to rebuild two hospitals in San Francisco — but there won’t be a vote on the matter any time soon.

Instead, the Board of Supervisors will push any vote on the deal off into the new year.

Three supervisors — David Chiu, David Campos and Mark Farrell — as well as Ken Rich from Mayor Ed Lee’s office, have been in intense talks with Sutter Health’s West Bay president, Mike Cohill and Warren Browner, CEO of the Sutter-affiliated California Pacific Medical Center. Mediating it all is Lou Girardo, the wealthy millionaire who co-owns Boudin Bakery and once sat on the police commission.

The proposal to rebuild a 555-bed hospital on Van Ness Avenue hit the skids this year after it became clear that the hospital behemoth couldn’t commit to keeping the struggling St. Luke’s Hospital on Cesar Chavez Avenue open over the long term. The hospital deal is scheduled to be considered at Tuesday’s board meeting, but sources close to the talks said the item will be continued until next year; negotiations will continue all this week.